Prime Minister Tammam Salam on Tuesday held talks with visiting Spanish King Felipe VI, hailing the efforts of Spain's contingent within the UNIFIL force operating in southern Lebanon.

In their meeting at the Grand Serail, Salam underlined his keenness on strengthening all aspects of the relation with Spain, extending gratitude over Spain's participation in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), state-run National News Agency reported.

The Change and Reform parliamentary bloc stressed Tuesday that it will show no “leniency” in the issue of security and military appointments, calling for respecting the Constitution and the National Pact.

“There will be no leniency regarding the issue of appointments. The government that appointed the members of the Banking Control Commission and the cabinet's secretary general has the ability to carry out military appointments,” the bloc said in a statement issued after its weekly meeting in Rabieh.

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat warned Tuesday of possible “dangerous repercussions” that may result from the anti-Saudi remarks of some Lebanese leaders.

“The magnitude and extent of the statements we heard in Lebanon were not even voiced by the Islamic Republic of Iran itself,” said Jumblat in his weekly editorial in the PSP-affiliated al-Anbaa website.

Israeli security sources acknowledged on Tuesday that the death of a Spanish U.N. peacekeeper in January was caused by Israeli fire.

"The Spanish soldier was indeed killed by Israel Defense Forces artillery, following a Hizbullah attack on IDF (army) forces that killed two soldiers," a source said on condition of anonymity.

Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea has stressed that security and strategic decisions should only be made by the Lebanese state to have a strong Republic.

“The first and basic condition to have a powerful Republic is to give back the Lebanese state mainly security, military and strategic decisions,” said Geagea in an interview with France 24 that will be broadcast on Tuesday.

General Security chief Major General Abbas Ibrahim stressed on Tuesday that achieving national security begins from creating a comprehensive strategy.

“The strategy should take into consideration the latest regional and international challenges,” he told the General Security magazine in its latest issue.

Three more Lebanese truck drivers crossed to Lebanon on Tuesday after they were stranded on the Syrian-Jordanian border following a rebel seizure of the Syrian side last week.

The drivers, who hail from the northern Akkar district, were identified by the state-run National News Agency as Ali Chehade, Youssef al-Mohammed and Abdul Halim Mahmoud Abdullah.

Brother of captive serviceman Ibrahim Mgheit, Nizam, demanded on Tuesday the state to clarify media reports saying that the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) transferred the soldiers and policemen in its captivity to Syria's Riqqa.

Mgheit urged the state to clear up the reports, expressing fear over the fate of the men.

A dog has attacked and killed a seven-year-old boy in the eastern city of Zahle, the state-run National News Agency reported on Tuesday.

NNA said Michael Dany Kassouha was playing at his father's farm on Monday when the incident took place.

The Lebanese Army raided on Tuesday a jihadist post on the outskirts of the northeastern town of Ras Baalbek, attacking gunmen and causing casualties among their ranks, the military and the state-run National News Agency said.

The Airborne Regiment controlled the strategic post at al-Mukhairmeh hill at dawn, leaving three of them dead and four injured, they said.